Sharp’s 85-inch LV-85001 8K Ultra HD priced: £85,570

Just as 4K TV prices start to reach an acceptable level, Sharp goes and ruins it by announcing prices for its first 8K Ultra HD panel.

The Japanese manufacturer will be selling its 85-inch LV-85001 monster for ¥16 million (£85,570), more than a little beyond the average pay grade and considerably above the hypothetical asking price Skyworth quoted for its own 98-inch 8K concept TV.

The Sharp LV-85001 will be available to order from October 30 onwards and the first units should start shipping three months after that – almost in time for Christmas.

Broadcasts shot in 8K (7680 x 4320) offer four times the amount of detail you’d get with a 4K TV transmission (3840 x 2160), which is turn provide four times the detail you’d get with a 1080p Full HD broadcast.

Delia Bushell, the head of BT TV and BT Sport recently said that an upgrade to 8K was being considered but it’d be years before such a service arrived in the UK. In the meantime, we’re more likely to see things like 5.1.4 surround sound and HDR (High Dynamic Range) supported on TV platforms before 8K arrives.